The Italian Job Stunt Coaster Stats
- Type of coaster: LIM-launched steel
- Height: 45 feet
- Highest drop: 31 feet
- Top speed: 40 mph
- The Italian Job Stunt Coaster Preview Photo Gallery
Kings Dominion Launches Yet Another Coaster
Thrill ride fans looking for damn-the-torpedoes speed and face-melting G-forces might be disappointed in the stats, but Paramount is calling The Italian Job a themed "family" (i.e., semi-wimpy) coaster--with an emphasis on the themeing. The magnetic launch technology used in the coaster will help advance the storyline. For example, after peeling out through a parking garage (no lift hill required) and zooming down stairs into a subway station, the trains will abruptly stop--as a helicopter opens fire and fuel tanks blow up--then quickly accelerate. A more traditional coaster wouldn't be able to behave similarly using gravity and momentum alone. The Revenge of the Mummy attractions at both Universal Studios in Hollywood and Orlando also integrate launched coasters into a richly themed ride experience.The Mini Cooper cars, which will each seat four riders, will be mounted on top of coaster train chassis. There will be a bit of give between the car and the chassis to allow each Mini Cooper to independently fishtail as it maneuvers hairpin turns. Unfortunately, The Italian Job will be a Mini ride. With no lift hill to build anticipation or pad out the experience, the duration of the ride will be a mere few seconds over one minute.
With the addition of The Italian Job, Paramount's Kings Dominion takes the prize for most number of launched coasters. The park also features Volcano, The Blast Coaster, the indoor Flight of Fear, and the compressed-air launched HyperSonic XLC. The Italian Job will be the park's 13th coaster (14 if both sides of the dual-track Rebel Yell are included).
